The Reality of Death
By Dr. Saleh As-SalehPublished Daar Al-BukhariLife in this world has an appointed term, and the end of the term will definitely come...
The righteous will die and the wicked will die...The worriers for just causes will die and those who run from death will dieThose who busy themselves with correct belief will die...and those who treat people as their slaves will die...The brave who rejects injustice will die, and the coward who seeks to cling o­n to the life at any price will die...The people of great concern and lofty goals will die, and wretched people who live o­nly for cheap enjoyment will die...Wherever we will be, in a fortress or in a tent, we will die...
All will die:
Allaah (God) says:
Everyone shall taste death...[Quraan 3: 185]
No o­ne will escape death. Allaah says:
Say: Verily, the death from which you flee will surely meet you, then you will be sent back to (Allaah), the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.[Quraan 62: 8]
This life is a period of trials and tests. Allaah says:
He (Allaah) has created death and life, that He may test which of you is the best in deed. He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.[Quraan 67:2]
Man is called to exert the right efforts to achieve the true success in this life and in the hereafter. When exerted according to Allaah's way, the outcome is:
Whoever works righteousness whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer (in the o­neness of Allaah), verily to him (or to her) We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise).[Quraan 16: 97]
But those who disbelieve and belie Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) such are the dwellers of the Fire, they shall abide therein forever.[Quraan 2: 39]
Those who invoke other than Allaah even if they call themselves "Muslims", o­nce evidences are established upon them that they are setting up rivals with Allaah, and they die insisting o­n that, they exit the fold of Islam because they have committed shirk (worshipping or associating others with Allaah). Prophets, themselves, are warned to keep away from Shirk in all its forms. In fact after mentioning the names in the good ranks of eighteen Prophets
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah, David Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, Aron, Zachariah, John, Jesus, Elias, Ishmael, Elisha, Jonah, and Lot together with thier fathers, their progeny, and their brethren.
in Surat (Chapter) of Al-An'aam (Chapter 6 in the Quraan), Allaah warned that:
But if they had joined in the worship others with Allaah, all that they used to do would have been of no benefit to them.[Quraan 6:88]
A similar note was made clear to the last Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم), in which Allaah says:
And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), as it was to those (Allaah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allaah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers.[Quraan 39:65]
One of the close and learned companions of the Prophet Muhammadby the name of Abdullah bin Mas'oud, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: The Prophetsaid o­ne statement and said another. The Prophetsaid: "Whoever dies while still invoking anything otherthan Allaah as a rival to Allaah, will enter Hell (Fire)." An I said "Whoever dies without invoking anything as a rival to Allaah, will enter Paradise."[Shahih Al Bukhari Volume 6 Hadeeth 24]
When the appointed term of each soul is concluded, the o­nly thing that counts then, is its stand towards its Creator. At the time when the soul examines the actual death it will be too late for anyone to repent:
And Allaah will never grant reprieve to any soul when its appointed time has come, and Allaah is aware of all that you do.[Quraan 63: 11]
Until, when death comes to o­ne of them (those who join partners with Allaah and those who persist in their rejection of the Resurrection), he says: " My Lord! Send me back (to life) so that I may work in righteousness regarding things left behind!" But no! It is o­nly a word he says; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the day they are raised up.[Quraan 23: 99-100]
Before it is too late, all people are called to reflect o­n their way of life, about the purpose of existence and the end. Certainly to Allaah will be the return. He made His Message clear and said:
There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (all froms of false deities) and believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower[Quraan 2: 256]
In his Farewell Pilgramage to Makkah, Prophet Muhammadaddressed the people o­n Friday, the 9th day of the 12th month of the 10th year of the Islamic Hijrah calendar, corresponding to the year 632 of the western calendar: He said:
"... I have left you among you the Book of Allaah and if you hold fast to it, you will never go astray. And you will be asked about me (on the Day of resurrection), (now tell me) what would you say? They ( the audience) said, conveyed (the Message), discharged (the ministry of prophethood) and given wise (sincere) counsel."
The Prophet then raised his forefinger towards the sky and pointing at the people (said):
"O Allaah be withness, O Allaah, be witness, saying it thrice."[Sahih Muslim V.2 pp. 611-617]